“As a NICU graduate parent who has walked through the emotional and uncertain journey so many families face, I am deeply committed to supporting parents and caregivers during one of the most challenging times in their lives.”
“It’s truly hard to believe that my little miracle baby was born in the NICU at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center nine years ago this past Christmas Eve! I had been on bed rest in the hospital for 49 days after being diagnosed with something I never heard of called placenta accreta. Normally, the placenta detaches after childbirth. With placenta accreta, the placenta remains firmly attached to the uterus. This can cause a great deal of blood loss during delivery. Most women with placenta accreta wind up with a c-section and hysterectomy and are at risk for multiple blood transfusions. They also have an increased mortality rate from possible hemorrhaging. When my husband and I found this out, it was overwhelming news but my phenomenal OB/GYN explained everything to me in great detail and put me at ease by answering my many questions. While on bed rest in the hospital, I had several bleeds, small and big. There were moments I feared for my life and for my baby’s life. The wonderful nurses treated me like family and kept my spirits up. I meditated. I prayed.
Mia and I managed to hang on until Christmas Eve morning when I woke up with a small bleed. It was go time! The possibility of everything that could go wrong in my delivery was terrifying, but I had the BEST doctors and nurses who assured me that I'd be OK. I managed to deliver Mia safely under anesthesia supported by a large team of doctors and nurses in the OR. We made it! Mia Lily was born at 3 pounds and almost 10 weeks early.
Immediately after giving birth, she was whisked away to the NICU. Her weight dropped to 2 pounds 8 ounces days later. She was so small and perfect. Her tiny head fit in the palm of our hands. Mia is truly our miracle baby. She mostly needed to feed and grow. From day one, the NICU doctors and nurses made us feel like Mia was in the best hands possible, which she was. Mia and I were in the hospital for exactly the same number of days. We visited her each of those 49 days. The NICU nurses became our family. They answered every question, every call. They wiped my tears and gave lots of hugs and pep talks. And then, three weeks before her ‘due date,’ Mia came home. Her big sister was so excited to meet her. Our little family was finally under one roof. We cannot thank the NICU doctors and nurses enough. They are still my family. They saved our lives, and we will be grateful forever.
Mia is now a happy, healthy 9-year-old who adores her family and friends. She plays softball on our town’s travel team, is a cheerleader for the local football team, and enjoys gymnastics and dance. As for myself, from the very start of my crazy bedrest/NICU experience, I vowed I would do anything and everything to give back to this wonderful NICU and hospital.
Eight years ago, I joined the NICU Family Advisory Council (FAC) which is a group of former graduate NICU parents that volunteer their time to help support the families and staff in the NICU. I also spent three years on the planning committee for the Miracle Walk, the annual fundraiser for the CBMC NICU. This journey ultimately led me to the part-time job I recently began as the CBMC NICU Family Advisory Council Coordinator. As a NICU graduate parent who has walked through the emotional and uncertain journey so many families face, I am deeply committed to supporting parents and caregivers during one of the most challenging times in their lives. My personal experience has fueled my passion for ensuring that every family feels understood and supported throughout their NICU stay and beyond.” - Stephanie
Want to Help the Family Advisory Council (FAC)?
The FAC is made up of graduate parents dedicated to helping new NICU parents. They meet monthly to discuss ways to do this. They are always looking for recent graduate parents to share their experiences and ideas to make the NICU the best it can be. They welcome all ideas and participation.
Current and former NICU families interested in learning about ways you might give back to the NICU after you take your baby home are asked to get in touch with Stephanie:
Stephanie D’Andrea, FAC Coordinator
stephanie.dandrea@rwjbh.org | 973‐322‐9486